Posted on 07/26/2008 10:17:58 AM PDT by Entrepreneur
Liberals say Iraq is another Vietnam; conservatives say Barack Obama is Jimmy Carter redux. ABBA's a mega-hit and Elton John's going to be performing at Madison Square Garden. Had enough of these '70s flashbacks? Brace yourself for another: the return of the national speed limit, courtesy of one of the country's most venerable politicians.
Senator John Warner (R-VA) — elected in 1978 — recently expressed interest in the idea of a national speed limit to conserve gasoline. Warner, who is not running for re-election this year, wrote to U.S. Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman, asking "at what speed is the typical vehicle traveling on America's highways today most fuel efficient?"
Warner told TIME his concern is for "the many millions and millions [of Americans] of limited means, sitting around their kitchen table trying to figure out how to make ends meet." Unlike long-term alternative energy sources, Warner says, a speed limit would work to bring down gas prices immediately. "Maybe some guy's got a better idea," he says. "But I haven't seen it."
The National Maximum Speed Limit of 55 mph was created in 1974, when Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Energy Highway Conservation Act. Prior to that, states had been free to set their own speed limits, but the new law threatened to strip Federal highway funding from any state straying above the national standard. The ostensible purpose of this limit was to keep down gas prices, which had been driven through the roof by an OPEC embargo touched off by the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. And with gas-prices once again sky-high, Warner isn't alone in talking up a cap on speeding.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
220 miles at what speed?
Sa-weet.
My neighbor had to get his youngest kid's belongings from Cal Tech last month. He sent the Mrs and son back on an airplane. He said he had the cruise set at 87 MPH and people were flying by him on that stretch of highway.
There is no law that says you have to drive faster than 55.
Everyone that is for this has an stake in the speeding ticket revenue. Period!
After driving 5000 miles of interstate in the last month, 99.5 % of autos and 100% of semis are at the posted speed or...get this, less.
Those of you for driving 55 to save, try the 45. You will be rolling in cash from the savings.
Just stay in the right lane, make sure your turn light is off and have a nice day.
By the way, nice hat. I have not seen one of those since 1959.
It will be 35 or 45 this time.
Just wait, they will try to ban all cars soon enough.
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